Operation Prom Date (Tactics in Flirting, #1)(42)

“So what? You’re going to go to college, get a law degree, and become a lawyer to make him happy? When are you going to live your life?”

“I’m not sure I can afford to live my life—he won’t pay for school if I change degrees, I’m sure of it. And Harvard isn’t exactly known for being cheap. But they have the best rowing team—the best marine biology program, too.”

“I know I’ll have to take out student loans to even attend a state school, but I hear it’s still doable.”

The way she laid it out made it seem so simple.

She spread the grass she’d formed into a nest, scattering it in a stripe in front of her, and then slapping her hands together. “Sorry. I’m not being supportive of your rant. What I mean to say is, that sucks! You should get to do what you want!”

I shot her a grin. “I actually appreciate the more logical counterpoints.”

“Oh no. Counterpoints? The brainwashing lawyers have gotten to you already.” She gripped my shirt dramatically. “Come back to me, Space Case. Don’t let them have you.”

“If anyone’s been body-snatched, I think it might be you.”

She laughed. Then her expression turned serious. “Have you ever thought that a completely honest conversation with your dad, even if it’s a hard one, might clear this all up?”

“I tried at the beginning of the year. He shut it down. He told me about how he was hesitant at first, too, but that his father and his grandfather were lawyers, and now he’s glad his father made him see reason. Oh, and he made sure to throw in a mention about how I’m his only son, and how it’s my job to carry on the Callihan name at the Callihan, Anderson, and Smith law firm in Manchester.”

“Well, counselor. If you don’t want to be forced into a career you don’t want, you might have to put up a better argument. As a lawyer, surely he’ll appreciate that.” She curled her fingers around mine. “And just know that I’ll be here for you afterward, no matter how it goes.”

In the end, that might be the only thing that gave me enough courage to try.





Chapter Twenty-Five


Kate


Okay, I so didn’t want to be that girl who stared at her phone all day waiting for a boy to call. Unfortunately, I was that girl last night. I could hardly even enjoy Arrow because I kept turning it down, thinking I’d heard my phone.

How dare Mick make me miss the show with my OTP!

But by Saturday morning, I’d decided I was as much to blame as he was. A phone worked two ways, after all, and I lived in a day and age where a girl could call up a guy. According to Mom, I should be thanking her generation for that.

So after showering and getting ready for the day, I went to my bedroom, closed the door behind me, and scooped up Klaus. I set him on my lap and petted his head as I took in all my paired figurines. Only one way to get a prom picture that’d look awesome in the mix, and that was to go after what I wanted.

I wonder if Cooper talked to his dad about what he wants.

After I made this phone call, I’d check in with my on-again friend. Yesterday proved how much better my life was with him in it. Being able to talk about my dad with Cooper had soothed the ache of missing him, and I loved how we could easily go from that to joking around to Jet Skiing at ridiculously fast speeds to discussing his rocky relationship with his dad. Loved how he’d confided in me about what he truly wanted to study in college. Even in the best times with Amber, we’d never gotten deep like that.

I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure our friendship stays that way.

Panic squeezed my lungs at the thought of him suddenly dropping me the way Amber had, even as I assured myself he wouldn’t, especially after I told him how much it would hurt me. Our friendship was stronger; it would last.

At least until he had to go to Harvard in the fall.

The squeezing sensation returned, and I worried what I’d do when he left. I’d be alone again…

Okay, no reason to freak out over something that’s still months away. I took a few deep yoga-type breaths, a trick I’d learned when my overthinking ways got the best of me, and redirected, another tool that came in handy.

Cooper and I are good again, so I need to focus on getting that prom picture to add to my shelves.

For one blip of a second, I saw Cooper standing next to me in a tux instead of Mick. My stomach dipped, my pulse quickened, and a thread of desire stitched its way through my core, the same way it had when he showed me how to work the Jet Ski, his lips a mere breath from mine.

Then my carefully laid plans began shouting at me for trying to mess them up, a jumbled tangle of clashing, confusing thoughts tumbling around in my mind.

Speaking of messing things up, I’d just vowed to do whatever it took to ensure Cooper and I stayed good friends, and now I was tempting fate by entertaining dangerous, more-than-friends thoughts about him?

Immediately, the logical side of my brain came to my defense. It’s okay. Friends sometimes go to prom together…

I’d spent a lot of time picturing it as a big romantic night with slow dancing and kissing, and part of me didn’t want to let that go, even though I knew Cooper and I would definitely have fun.

Correction: I would have fun. Cooper made it clear he didn’t want to go to prom. He’d even said it was a lot of effort for a night he’d just forget in a few years, so basically he didn’t understand the point at all, and I didn’t want him to go with me out of pity.